Zoe Aldcroft will captain England in their Women's Six Nations game against Scotland on Saturday, with regular skipper Marlie Packer named on the bench.

Centre Emily Scarratt is managing a calf injury and misses out again.

Lock Abbie Ward comes back into the second row, as one of two changes to John Mitchell's side.

Hooker Amy Cokayne also returns to start her first Red Roses game in a year, with Lark Atkin-Davies dropping out of the squad.

The Leicester Tiger, who was England's starting hooker at the World Cup in 2022, scored two tries against Scotland in last year's Six Nations, but has been missing because of a calf injury.

Mitchell names an unchanged backline from the victory over Wales, meaning there is no return for Scarratt, who started in the opening victory over Italy in what was her first game for England in 13 months following neck surgery.

Saracens forward Poppy Cleall was ruled out of the fixture after sustaining a knee injury in training on Tuesday. The 31-year-old was banned for England's opening game after admitting to using foul language in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR).

The Red Roses won a Six Nations Grand Slam last year and remain on course to clinch their sixth Six Nations title in a row.

"The fallow week presented a moment to reflect on the opening rounds and grow the elements of our game," Mitchell said.

"Our learnings all build towards evolving our performance. We are looking forward to building on this and taking another step forward together against Scotland this weekend."

Scotland recorded their first victory on Welsh soil for 20 years in Cardiff in their opening game before a narrow defeat by France in Edinburgh.

The match will be a sell-out at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh and set a Scotland women's home record crowd of 7,774.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Clifford, Feaunati, M Packer, L Packer, Harrison, Gregson.